Green was just a simple color. Now, it’s a status symbol. In my
opinion, green is not something you make, buy or grow. Green is a
way of life.

It’s important to educate consumers one by one about the many
virtues of green building materials.

The first customer comes in and says she’s been on this earth for 50
plus years and all that time; she has been a burden to the earth.
Therefore, she asks us to consult with her on how she can completely
remodel her hose using reclaimed and recycled materials. Not one
product can be new: they all have to be given a new life.

The next customer comes in and asks if we can help build a home with
the least carbon foot print . In this situation, we would determine
the location of the home and provide sources of natural products or
reclaimed materials, that are both energy and resource efficient and
re available from a 200 mile radius of the project.

Finally the third customer coming in with her Autistic child and
asks us to build a home that is free of our gassing and toxic
materials that could harm her son. For her and her family, I would
suggest a many products as possible that have a credible track
record with consumers who are chemically sensitive or have allergies
and asthma.

Three completely different situations, but all can be considered
green. Neither customer is right or wrong in their need and beliefs.
We must alter our approach to provide what each wants. The one issue
that seems to override all is the issue of human health concerns.
Everyone I consult with wants the healthiest home possible.
Sustainability, energy savings, global climate change, etc, all come
in second to the issue of human health.

In your
efforts to be a green consumer, there is no magic potion or silver
bullet, and there are definitely no perfect green products. Recycled
content to lifecycle costs: human health concerns to the social
justice aspect of the manufacturers’ labor practices. These are all
important factors to determine what home improvements products you
should purchase. Your own person a Degree of Green is based on your
values, your specific needs and of course, your desire to tread
lightly.

Modern Health and Living is a newsmagazine dedicated to
healthy living for all ages. In each edition we

provide our readers with cutting edge information, modern
design, and special features to enhance our